Launch of Cities Countdown to 2030

The “Cities Countdown to 2030” initiative was officially launched at the Turkish House in New York City. This ambitious collaboration between United Cities and Local Governments and UN-Habitat aims to fast-track the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by showcasing high-impact public policies cities and regions worldwide are championing.

The initiative is led by UCLG in collaboration with UN-Habitat, with the leadership of the UCLG President and Mayor of Konya Uğur İbrahim Altay and the UN Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, and under the auspices of the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohamed.

Facilitated by Emilia Saiz, Secretary-General of UCLG, the event opened with remarks from Ahmet Yıldız, Ambassador of Türkiye, followed by UCLG President, UN-Habitat Executive Director, and Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted the crucial role of local governments in achieving the 2030 Agenda.

The initiative focuses on six key transitions, including food systems, job creation, technology, and climate action. Cities like Konya (Turkey), Mexico City (Mexico), and Malmö (Sweden) are already leading projects on sustainable food systems, equitable care, and climate-neutral urban management, respectively. The effort employs a “retro-planning” methodology with milestones set for 2025 and 2029, emphasizing continuous monitoring and collaborative efforts with civil society and academia.

The initiative also calls for enhanced financial and regulatory support to empower local governments as catalysts for sustainable development. As a platform, it seeks to transform global SDG commitments into concrete, local actions, showcasing how cities can lead in building a sustainable future for all.

The launch event concluded with a series of interventions from mayors of Rabat, Banjul, Belize, Utrecht, and Montevideo, all emphasizing the urgency of localized action and the need for strengthened partnerships to achieve the SDGs.